Backgammon – 3 General Plans
by Caden on Saturday, July 12th, 2025
In very simple terms, there are 3 general tactics used. You need to be agile enough to hop between strategies almost instantly as the course of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This comprises of building a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at least as thick as you are able to achieve, to block in your opponent’s checkers that are on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most adequate course of action at the begining of the match. You can assemble the wall anyplace within your eleven-point and your two-point and then shift it into your home board as the game progresses.
The Blitz
This is composed of closing your home board as quick as as you can while keeping your competitor on the bar. i.e., if your opposer rolls an early two and moves one piece from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then toss a five-five, you can play six/one 6/1 eight/three eight/three. Your challenger is now in serious difficulty due to the fact that they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have locked half your inside board!
The Backgame
This course of action is where you have two or higher pieces in your competitor’s home board. (An anchor is a position consisting of at a minimum 2 of your checkers.) It would be used when you are significantly behind as it greatly improves your opportunities. The best areas for anchor spots are towards your opponent’s lower points and also on adjacent points or with a single point in between. Timing is crucial for an effectual backgame: besides, there’s no reason having 2 nice anchor spots and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then forced to break down this right away, while your opponent is shifting their pieces home, seeing that you don’t have any other spare checkers to shift! In this case, it is more tolerable to have checkers on the bar so that you can maintain your position up until your opposer provides you a chance to hit, so it can be an excellent idea to attempt and get your opposer to hit them in this case!
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